Closure for bottles or other containers



Jan. 5, 1937. s D, YOUNG 2,066,708

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS Filed July 7, 1932 I 5L! lllllllllllllllHHlllllllliil"I! lllllllllllllllllllHIHIIIIIHIHIIIIIIII RA-Ill? a O INVENTOR D. Young.

Pate nted Jan. 5, 1937 CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER. CONTAINERS Samuel D. Young, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Engi land, assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 1, 1932, Serial No. 621,129 In Great Britain July 8, 1931 14 Claims. (01. 21543) The present invention relates to metallic cuplike closures for bottles and other containers and more particularly to such closures in which an upper portion of the flange is provided with means for removably holding the closure on the neck of the container and a lower sealing portion of the flange which is adapted to be bent under a formation on the neck of the container is adapted for ready removal by an authorized possessor of the container.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a bottle cap of this type which is formed integrally from a single piece of sheet metal drawn to the required shape and in which the flange below the holding means is scored internally and the sealing portion is provided with a perforated tongue to facilitate the removal of the sealing portion.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved one-piece metallic closure for a bottle or other container which is so constructed as to afford an authorized user of the contents of the bottle or other container to which it is applied a better assurance than heretofore that said contents have not been tampered with since leaving the factory of the manufacturer and which is also so ,constructed as to be readily removable by the authorized user and to be capable of use thereafter as a re closure. With this object in view and such others as will hereinafter appear or are incidental thereto the present invention consists in a one-piece metallic closure of cup-like form for a bottle or other container in which the metal of the flange is perforated at intervals along a circumferential line so as to provide an upper portion capable of serving as a re-closure for the container and a lower sealing portion adapted to be spun under a suitable formation on the container connected together by a series of narrow strips of metal.

More specifically stated the present invention consists in a one piece metallic closure of cuplike form, for a bottle or other container in which the flange is provided circumferentially with a series of perforations which are of considerable length in the circumferential direction as compared with the circumferential width of the metal left between them to provide a lower sealing portion adapted to be spun under a suitable 0 formation on the surface of the container and serving normally to seal the closure on the container and an upper re-closure portion connected together by a series of readily rupturable narrow metal strips. 55 In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect reference may now be had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of a closure constructed in accordance with the present invention, assembledon a container prior to being pressed or forced into engagement with the exterior surface thereof; 7

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same closure after being pressed or forced into engagement with the exterior surface of the container;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view corresponding to Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the closure 15 shown in Fig. l.

As shown in the drawing the closure of the present invention is a cup-like form and comprises a disc-like portion I intended to lie over the orifice of the container 2 and an integral 20 portion 3 in the form of a flange depending from I the portion l and intended to lie adjacent to or to engage with the exterior surface of the contamer-for example with the neck of a bottle. Within the cup-like element there is provided the usual seal t for the orifice of the container which may conveniently be a disc of cork or other suitable material.

According to the present invention the flange 3 is provided circumferentially with a series of perforations 5 dividing it into an upper portion .6 and a lower portion 1. The perforations are of considerable length circumferentially as compared with the circumferential width of the metal left between them so as to provide a series of more or less narrow strips 8 of material connecting the portions 6 and l for the purpose which will appear more clearly hereinafter.

In the case illustrated in the drawing a closure as above described is shown applied to the 40 neck of a bottle formed or provided on its exterior surface adjacent its discharge orifice with a, ridge or indentation 9 of screw thread form and immediately thereunder with a continuous bead or looking ring). After assembly of. the 45 closure upon the bottle as shown in Fig; 1 the lower margin ll of the lower portion l of the flange 3 is bent-as for example by a rolling or spinning operation-into engagement with or under the bead or looking ring In thereby sealing or locking the closure on the container. I

The upper portion 6 of the flange ofthe closure may be preformed to enable the closure to be applied to the container with a screw-like action or alternately that portion of the flange 3 may be pressed or forced into engagement with the ridge or indentation 9 on the bottle neck by a rolling or like operation for example at the same time that the lower margin ll of the lower portion I of the flange is being rolled or spun into contact with the bead Ill.

The lower portion 1 of the flange 3 may be formed with one or more integral tabs I2 to enable it to be removed readily by fracture of the material thereof and by fracture of the metal of the strips 8 and such tabs may conveniently lie normally closely adjacent the exterior surface of the container but they may lie against the flange 3 itself in some circumstances (as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 3) for example presses radially on the portion 1 and the other of which tucks or bends the marginal portion II thereof below the bead I 0 and I have found it dosirable to ensure that both rollers exert equal pressures on the portion |-as for example by mounting both upon a common arm-as otherwise zones of the material may be hardened unequally and difficulty may be experienced in separating the lower portion I of the flange from the remainder by the use of the tabs I2. This is especially the case when the closure is made of thin aluminum. v

If desired the closure may be formed without any tabs l2 in which case the portion 1 of the flange 3 may be removed by causing relative movement to take place between the upper portion 6 and the lower portion 1 for example by applying a screwing movement to the upper portion 6 in the case illustrated. h

The closure may be formed ofany suitable material but is preferably made of thin aluminum.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that once the closure has been applied to a container suitably formed for its reception the lower portion I of the flange 3 forms an effective seal against unauthorized removal of the closure because if an attempt is made to remove the closure it is evident that one or more of the narrow strips 8 will almost certainly be fractured thereby showing unmistakable signs that the closure has been tampered with. On the other hand after removal of the portion '1 by an authorized possessor of the container the other portion 6 of the closure may be used as an effective re-closure for the container.

In the normal use ofthe closure of the invention, fracture along the perforations 5 renders the lower edge rough or raw and capable of cutting the flngers of one manipulating the closure. To insure against any such injury, means is provided in the upper portion 6 of the flange. 3 which extends outwardly beyond the perforations 5. In the preferred form, this extending or projecting means takes the form of a cylindrical bead formation I4.

It willbe understood that the ridge or indentation 9 and the corresponding'formation on the flange 3 may be of intermittent screw thread form or any other means may be provided to ensure use of the closure as a re-closure after removal of the lower portion 1 of the flange.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A one-piece metallic closure of cup-like form for a bottle or other container in which the metal of the flange is perforated at intervals along a circumferential line so as to provide an upper portion capable of serving as a re-closure for the container and a lower sealing portion adapted to be spun under a formation on the container, the upper portion of the flange thereof being provided with an indentation in the form of a screw thread for cooperation with a similar formation on the exterior surface of the container, and the lower portion of the flange being tubular, said first mentioned formation on.

the container under which thetubular sealing portion is adapted to be spun being located below the last mentionedformation on the container, and said closure being adapted to fracture along the perforations on rotation thereof with- .out distortion of the threads or under-spun flange. s i

' 2. A one-piece metallic closure of cupelike form.

- the circumferential direction as compared with the circumferential width of the metal left between them to provide a lower sealing portion adapted to be spun under a formation on the surface of the container and an upper re-closure portion, the upper portion of the flange thereof being provided with an indentation in the form of a screw thread for cooperation with a similar formation on the exterior surface of the container, and the lower portion of the flange being tubular, said first mentioned formation on the container under which the tubular sealing portion is adapted to be spun being located below the last mentioned formation on the container, and said closure being adapted to fracture along the perforations on rotation thereof without distortion ofthe threads or under-spun flange.

3. A one-piece metallic closure of cup-like form for a bottle or other container in which the metal of the flange is perforated at intervals along a circumferential line so as to provide an upper portion capable of serving as a re-closure for the container and a lower sealing portion adapted to be spun under a formation on the container, the upper portion of the flange thereof being provided with an indentation in the form of a screw thread for cooperation with a similar formation on the exterior surface of the container, and the lower portion of the flange being tubular, said first mentioned formation on the container under which the tubular sealing portion is adapted to be spun being located below the last mentioned formation on the container, said indentation in the form of a screw thread on the upper portion of the flange being adapted to be produced by pressing or rolling the flange into engagement with the exterior surface of the container at the same time as the lower portion of the flange is spun under the first mentioned formation on the container, and said closure being adapted to fracture along the perforations on rotation thereof without distortion of the threads or under-spun flange.

4. A one-piece metallic closure of cup-like form for a bottle or other container in which the flange is provided circumferentially with a series of perforations which are of considerable length in the circumferential direction as compared with the circumferential width of the metal left between them to provide a lower sealing portion adapted to be spun under a suitable formation on the surface of the container and an upper re-closure portion, the upper, portion of the flange thereof being provided with an indentation in the form of a screw thread for cooperation with a similar formation on the exterior surface ofhthe container and the lower portion of the flange being tubular, said first mentioned formation on the container under which the tubular sealing portion is adaptedto be spun being located below the last 'nientionedformation on the container', said indentation in the form of a screw thread on the "upperportion of the flange being adapted to be produced by pressing or rolling the flange into engagement with the exterior surface of the container at the same time as the lower portion of the flange is spun under the first mentioned formation on the container, and said closure being adapted to fracture along the perforations on rotation thereof without distortion of the threads or under-spun flange.

5. A one-piece pilfer-proof closure comprising an upper portion adapted to be used as a reto assist in severing the unperforated metal on relative movement between the upper and lower portions, said closure being adapted to fracture along the perforations on relative movement between the upper and' lower portions without distortion of the same. K

6. A one-piece metallic closure of cup-like form for a bottle having a rescaling portion and a locking portion, a series of perforations circumferentially disposed between the upper and lower portions, said perforations being of considerable length in the circumferential direction as compared with the circumferential width of the metal left between them,- said resealing portion being adapted to be removed from the bottle by relative movement with respect to the locking portion, said relative movement causing fracture of the metal-along the circumferential line of perforations, and a bead projecting outwardly beyond and above said line of perforations, said bead acting to protect and obscure any raw edge following fracture of the one-piece closure.

'7. In combination with a receptacle, a oneplece closure of cup-like form comprising an upper re-closure portion and a lower sealing portion, said closure being perforated at intervals between the re-closure and sealing portions, said sealing portion being adapted to be turned undef a single annular formation on the receptacle, and means associated with the re-closure portion and receptacle adapted to impart vertical movement to' the re-closure portion on unitary rotary movement of the one-piece closure, said r' closure being adapted to fracture alongthe perforations on relative movement between the upper and lower portions without distortion of the same.

..8. In combination with a receptacle, a onepiece closure of cup-like form comprising an upannular shoulder formation on the receptacle, and means associated withv the closure and receptacle adapted to impart vertical movement to the re-closure portion on unitary rotary movement of the one-piece closure, said closure being adapted to fracture along the perforations on relative movement between the upper and lower portions without distortion of the same.

9. In combination with a receptacle, a onepiece closure comprising an upper re-closure porlength in the circumferential direction as compared with the width of metal therebetween disposed between the re-closure and securing portions, the re-closure portion being provided with screw threads for cooperation with a similar formation on the receptacle, and the securing portion being spun under an annular formation on the receptacle, said'elosure on unitary rotary movement being adapted to impart vertical movement to the re-closure portion thereof, and said closurebeing adapted to fracture along the perforationson relative movement between the upper and lower portions without distortion of the same.

10. In combination with a receptacle, a onepiece closure comprising a flange perforated at intervals along a circumferential line, thread formations in the flange above said circumferential line of perforations for engagement with like formations on the receptacle, and an annular bead on the receptacle below said thread formations, said flange below said circumferential line of perforations being turned inwardly under said head to secure the one-piece closure against unauthorized removal, said closure on unitary rotary movement being adapted to impart vertical movement to the re-closure portion there of, said closure being adapted to fracture along a .10 tion and a lower securing portion, a, series of circumferential perforations of a considerable the line of perforations on relative movement between the threaded flange and bead-engaging flange portions without distortion of the same, and said threaded flange portion constituting a re-closure.

11. In combination with a receptacle having thread configurations adjacent its open end and aconfiguration of revolution below said thread configurations, a one-piece closure comprising a flange conformed to said thread configurations and having a portion thereof turned under the configuration of revolution, the flange being perforated at intervals in a plane between the threads and inwardly turned portion, said closure being adapted to be detectably severed at the perforations on unitary rotation to displace said closure without distortion of the thread configurations and the inwardly turned portion of the closure.

v 12. A one-piece closure comprising an upper re-closure portion and a. lower locking portion, a series of perforations circumferentially disposed between the upper and lower portions, said closure being'adapted to be severed along the series of perforations on relative movement between the upper and lower portions thereof, and a protective means disposed above and extending outwardly beyond said series of perforatims, said protective means being adapted to protect and obscure any raw edge following severance of the one-piece closure.

13. A one-piece closure comprising an upper re-closure portion and a lower locking portion, a line of circumferential perforations. disposed between the upper and lower portions, said closaid container, a series of perforations circumferentially disposed between the upper and lower portions, said re-closure portion being adapted to be severed from said lower portion on relative movement between the re-closure and lower porf tions, and a protective means disposed above and extending outwardly beyond said series of perforations, said protective means being adapted to protect and obscure any raw edge following severance of the one-piece closure.

SAMUEL D. YOUNG. 

